The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1887-11-03

9th ult. We find lengthy paper on Florida to-
bacco compiled from the chapter in the Tenth
National Census entitled the Culture of To.
bacco 10 Florida" and published by above
named journal to give to the trade accurate
knowledge of the former culture of the weed In
Florida" The census report states that tobacco
was first cultivated for market in Florida iu 1929,
in Gadsden county Virginia gentleman made
ii profitable on account of the silky texture of
the leaf and the ,rge amount that could be pro-
duced 10 the acre. The census of 1910 showed
total production for the State of rs ,274 pounds,
of which Gadsden county produced 66324
pounds. In the census of 1850 the State re
ported 99S614 pounds, and of this Gadsden
county was credited with 776l70 pounds and
Marion county with 100000. During the decade
between 1910 and 1850 its culture extended into
Calhoun, Leon and Jefferson counties, adjoining
Gadsden, and into Marion, near the centre of the
peninsula.
Between 1850 and 1860 the highest point Of
production was reached, and for several years
the annual sales varied from 5000 to 1000 boxes
of 400 pounds each. In 1860, owing to the in
crcasing efforts to raise sugar, and 10 the high
price of sea island cotton Ito the production of
which the earnest attention of the planters had
been drected), the reported production of tobac-
co declined to 829,S15 pounds for the State, of
which Gadsden county raised 553,701 pounds;
Washington, &c, $50; Calhoun, 49, 800, and Lib
erty, $4,000 Jefferson and Marion had aban-
doned its culture. The total production reported
in 1870 was 157, 405 pounds, and nearly every
county, except Gadsden, ceased 10 raise tobacco
for III Tn hot GolcInp
duced 11S ,799 pounds Calhoun, IL, 1922 pounds,
aud Washington, 1880 pounds few other
counties reported a small quantity, the largest
being Jackson, producing POP pounds-scarcely
enough for home consumption. The product in
1870 was only 10 per cent. of the amount pro-
duccd in 1860 The enumerators returns for
1880 show the production ito have fallen to 81
1872 pounds, grown on 80 acres. The next cen
sus report will show a vast increase over the crop
of many years previous to 1880.
Several varieties of tobacco are cultivated in
Florida: The Florida leaf, the Connecticut seed
leaf, the Havana and the Virginia. The seed
of the Florida leaf was originally introduced
from Virginia, and, while il has retained the size
of the Virginia tobacco, it has, through success
siol of years, acquired sickness and elasticity
from the soil which make it very valuable for
wrapping purposes.
The Connecticut seed leaf was introduced
few years since. 1t has a much broader leaf
than the Florida variety, will grow larger num-
Der of pounds per acre, and is more easily cured
chestnut color, the color most sought after at
the present time by the manufacturer. Nor is it
liable in as great degree as the Florida leaf TO
the white speck, which is now considered de-
feet in the Florida variety.
The Havana is small but comman DIS higher
price. More plants may be grown to the acre,
and two or even three crops may be grown in
single year upon the same land by leaving
sucker on the stalk near the ground in succession
as the various crops mature Another reason
for its popularity is that it can be grown on old
MANFRED lands, while the other varieties are con-
fined almost exclusively to the freshly cleared
areas
The Florida leaf and the Connecticut seed leaf
are grown for wrappers mainly, though the worst
leaves are taken for filters for common cigars
The Florida leaf, though not so large as the Con
necticut seed leaf, has better body and more
gum. The Cuba tobacco is grown for both fill
ers and wrappers and is said to preserve 10 con-
siderable, extent the aroma of the Cuban-grown
tobacco, becoming, however, larger and longer
until it assimilates the Florida leaf 1t is thought,
however, that the deterioration, if it may be
called such, will not occur in regions further
south.
Many years ago Of variety called the Spanish
was extensively grown. 1t is reported to have
had great sickness and elasticity as a wrapper.
The Sumalra tobacco recently introduced seems
productive and valuable variety.
The following estimate Of cost and profit of
raising tobacco on best soils in Florida is given